[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E549-E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BY STOPPING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

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                        HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, it is unusual for holidays originating 
in this country to be widely adopted and observed in other nations, 
including socialist countries. But that is the case with International 
Women's Day, which had its origins in an 1857 New York City march by 
female garment and textile 
 [[Page E550]] workers and went on to become an international event 
honoring women. But just as this holiday transcends national lines, so 
do human rights. And so does female genital mutilation, a painful 
ritual that involves cutting off of all or part of a female's 
genitalia. It is estimated that more than 100 million females of all 
ages in more than 30 countries have been subjected to female genital 
mutilation. About 10,000 of them migrate to this country annually, and 
some of them bring this practice with them. People ask me in disbelief 
if FGM happens in this country. Based on the calls I receive, the 
answer is ``yes.'' But we need to know more about its practice here, as 
part of an effort to stop it and educate communities about its 
devastating effect on female health. I invite my colleagues to 
cosponsor my bill, H.R. 941, which would do just that. And I remind 
them of the declaration made by the United Nations conference on 
population last year in Cairo, which urged governments to prohibit FGM 
and vigorously support efforts to eliminate it.


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